A Christmas afternoon with Mr. President

It has become a tradition that during major festivals, some Abuja residents always gather at the Villa to rejoice with whoever is the President at the time. Of course, not that the gates of the seat of power are opened to everybody, only the privileged few always make the list.

Last Sunday was Christmas and it afforded these prominent Nigerians another opportunity to visit President Muhammadu Buhari. Members of the delegation, as usual, included adherents of the two major religions in the country.

The visit was fixed for 2.30pm apparently to allow Christians to return from their churches before the visit. Those who made the list were driven in two white Coaster buses into the official residence of the President where the visit took place.

Apart from the various security points they had scaled through before getting to the residence, the visitors were again thoroughly frisked before they were allowed access into the building.

A prominent archbishop was visibly surprised when one of the security men asked him his name in order to confirm from the list whether he was expected. “You mean you don’t know me?” he asked as he pointed to his name on top of the list. He expressed another shock when he discovered that the security man had earlier mistakenly marked his name while clearing some other people who arrived earlier. “You mean somebody has impersonated me?” he asked again jokingly. He was allowed to join his people.

We also had our own share of the rigorous screening process. Usually, we are allowed to go in with our iPads and mobile telephones with a warning that we put them on silent mode. That did not happen on Sunday. Reporters were only allowed in with writing pads and voice recorders.

Another new thing was that the turnout was very low. I could not ascertain whether authorities decided to reduce the number of people allowed to take part in the visit drastically or the low turnout had anything to do with the prevailing situation in the country.

The programme for the visit anchored by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, was brief. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello, who led the delegation was saddled with the responsibility of introducing the guests.

That introduction was not without drama. The minister introduced a man who he said was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party as of the time they visited during last year’s Christmas. “Your Excellency, he has told me that he has seen the light and he has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress,” he said to the admiration of the President and others.

When it was time to introduce the senator representing the FCT, Phillip Aduda, the minister did not forget to add, “Your Excellency, Senator Aduda is currently of the PDP and I hope that very soon, he will also see the light.” The hall again erupted in laughter. The Chairman of the Christians Association of Nigeria, FCT branch, Rev. Jonah Sampson, also had the opportunity of talking briefly before they started presenting cards and gifts to the President.

A delegation of the Aso Villa Chapel led by the chaplain, Rev. Seyi Malomo, stole the show with their unique gifts of locally-made trophy that looked like Olympics logo and a decorative piece, bicycle. Explaining the works of arts to the President, Malomo said the man on the bicycle was a farmer returning from farm with fruits tied on its rear carrier. The trophy, he explained, was symbolic because the President received it at a time the nation’s soldiers captured the stronghold of the Boko Haram sect in Sambisa Forest.

Earlier, when the President arrived to receive his guests, he spent longer time discussing with the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, than he did with other members of the delegation.

Buhari used the opportunity of his short remarks to his guests to explain his affinity with the clergyman. Buhari said their cordial relationship dated back to when he was contesting the results of his three previous failed bids to become the President in court and he was visiting Onaiyekan at home during which both of them were agonising over the situation in the country.

The President said, “I will like to educate this group that has come here to say Happy Christmas about my attachment to Cardinal (Onaiyekan). During my long sojourn: 2003, 2007 and 2011, when I came out from the High Court, I do not know how many times I used to go into his house uninvited. We were both always agonising about the system. That was an experience I will never forget. Some of the people who were accompanying me know this. Some of them were always close to tears because what we went through was unprecedented during those three previous attempts. I do not know how many cases ended up at the Supreme Court three times until 2015 when we managed to be here.”

With the visit over, Buhari stood at the lobby to shake hands with his guests and take photographs. I observed that many people did not approach photojournalists for copies of their photographs with the President as they were doing before.

They must have realised that photographs with the President will not put food on their table, rather they will bring more burden.

Unveiling the sports Buhari likes, hates

No doubt, the President’s stature looks athletic. When one combines this with the fact that he was a military officer, one would have expected him to fit into any sports at all. This is however not the case. There are some sports that you will never catch Buhari participating in and this is authoritative.

The President disclosed the sports he likes and the ones he detests when the Senator Kabir Gaya-led National Planning and Implementation Committee of the first National Youth Open Water Swimming Competition tagged Youth Unity Cup 2016 visited him recently.

Buhari told his guests that while he likes athletics and hockey, he would never be caught taking part in boxing or football. He gave reasons for his choice.

“I was a long distance runner. That is all I know I was. I tried to avoid two things even in the military: boxing and football. But when I was in school, I played hockey. You hold a stick, I hold a stick. If you hit me, I hit you back. But for football, I know they can break my legs. For boxing, I may have longer reach but I don’t have heavier punch. So I was very careful about the sport I participate in. God knows I preserve myself very well,” the President said.

It will not be fair on my part to sign off this year without acknowledging those of you who have kept faith with this column since the beginning of the year. Some of you reached out to me to drop your words of encouragement and advice which I must admit kept me going. What else can I do other than to wish you a prosperous new year? Let us do it again in 2017.

Happy New Year.

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